How Cost Effective are Colour Multifunction Printers?

Even in the era of a “paperless office” it appears most workplaces seem to require everyone to use a printer as part of their their daily tasks. With this in mind many offices are in need of a printer solution that can accommodate the requests of all staff in an efficient and cost effective way.

Currently, the most popular printer type is the colour multifunction printer, due to their ability to print more quickly than other printers. However, the question in many minds is whether or not they're really cost effective.

The answer: yes.

The most important cost to consider is the cost of ink. In case you have researched laser printers in any respect, then you already know that their toner cartridges will cost almost as a much as the printer. However, at First Choice there is the opportunity to use solid ink technology, which can help save the cost of cartridges and help you reduce wastage to 1/20th! Solid ink technology is a great innovation that many companies have already experienced the benefits of. Not only will you be saving money, you’ll also be saving the environment. 

Another cost that most should consider when buying printers for the office is the price of the device, which can be expensive. However, with First Choice’s fixed cost services you will find a cheaper way to outfit the office with the right equipment; by leasing. First Choice offers a variety of leasing options and has close alliances with reputed finance companies such as Xerox Finance, so that you never pay more than you need to.

Other advantages of colour multifunction printers

•    Fast printing, copying and scanning speeds
•    Can operate more than one function at the same time
•    Time effective
•    Increase productivity
•    Quality prints
•    Provide email solutions as well as fax, scan, copy and print
•    Compatible with most PC and Mac computers
•    Can use GreenPrint Software
•    Environmentally friendly with the use of solid ink technology

If you’re looking for a cost effective way to print, contact First Choice today for your free consultation on 0800 072 3747 or email at info@firstchoiceltd.co.uk


Printer Spotlight | ColorQube 8870

Xerox ColorQube 8870Looking for a printer that can help save the environment and you money? There is no other printer than the Xerox ColorQube 8870, which uses solid ink technology and GreenPrint Software. This solid ink innovation is a one of a kind alternative to print cartridges; it can last longer, generating more prints for your money and is environmentally friendly, as it helps you to create up to 90% less waste.

There are many other features to this printer that will have you wondering why you hadn’t incorporated it into your office space sooner. The colour by words feature, for example, allows you to select the desired colour modifications from a simple and easy to use drop down list. It’s also easy to expand the features found on the ColorQube 8870, as you can add more memory for more time-saving characteristics and expand the paper capacity to 2,200 sheets.

This is a truly extraordinary printer; it generates incomparable colour performances, true cost savings and allows you to do your part for the environment, all in one compact machine.

Quick Facts - ColorQube 8870

•    Colour and black: up to 40ppm
•    Unique solid ink colour technology
•    Low colour running costs for busy offices,
•    First Choice now offers flexible pricing plans to pay less for colour pages
•    30% lower lifecycle energy demand
•    Up to 30% smaller carbon footprint than comparable laser printers
•    First-page-out time: 5 seconds
•    Resolution: up to 2400 FinePoint™
•    Standard paper capacity: 625 sheets
•    Maximum paper capacity: 2,200 sheets
•    Network connectivity standard on all models
•    Duty cycle of 120,000 pages per month

If you are interested in the Xerox ColorQube 8870 and would like further information about the printer, please contact First Choice. They are specialists in providing the best print solution to suit every business need. For your free consultation, phone First Choice today on 0800 072 3747.


The importance of green print functionality

Improve the eco-friendliness of your print functionality and see reputational benefitsPrinters and related devices use a huge amount of electricity. In fact, recent estimates suggest that for the majority of companies print functionality accounts for a third of the electricity the company uses.

This not only reduces the profit-making capacity of the business but paints a very negative environmental profile that can damage reputation and prevent new client uptake. As the government puts increasing pressure on businesses to cut carbon emissions in order to meet aggressive carbon reduction targets, companies must look to maximise the overall efficiency of their green investments to ensure they don't impact too heavily on profitability.

Print functionality is one of the best areas to improve the company's environmental profile without sacrificing revenue. There are a number of ways in which green printing can be implemented and encouraged:

• Turn devices off at night: Leaving printers idling can waste a huge amount of energy. Today's modern devices have very low warm-up times so you won't lose efficiency by turning your computers off. Encourage staff to always turn devices off at the end of the day, or organise a rota to ensure it happens
• Use managed print services: Having full control over your fleet allows the business to more effectively manage consumables, device-to-employee ratios and printer maintenance. Managed print services are one of the most effective methods of improving print functionality at the same time as reducing carbon-intensity
• Recycle paper efficiently: Cheap and very effective, recycling used paper can improve your company's reputation enormously. Encourage best practice amongst staff and distribute leaflets accordingly
• Only print when you need to: Staff should be told to only print emails when absolutely necessary. A lot of printing is undertaken when it's not really necessary - effective use of newer communication methods such as instant messaging can help cut down on unecessary usage.

For more information how your business can efficiently cut the environmental impact of its print functionality, please call First Choice Business Systems on 0800 072 3747. They offer free consultation and can advise you how Xerox printers can help proactively manage your print spend and environmental profile.

Five more ways to reduce your carbon footprint

Improving your company's energy efficiency is an essential part of any strategyBefore Christmas, we spoke about the the top five ways organisations can reduce their carbon footprint. Now that we're into the New Year, it's clear climate change is going to remain at the top of the agenda, with Gordon Brown recently announcing he will push through with plans to build on the deal reached at the Copenhagen Summit and reach a legally binding climate change agreement within several years.

Businesses may soon find themselves under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint as international pressure builds to meet reduction targets. We thought we'd help you get a head start, so here are five more ways you can help reduce your carbon footprint and do your bit to sustain an environmentally-friendly business strategy.

Unplug chargers
Laptop chargers, phone chargers - any charger that is plugged into a wall socket should be unplugged when not in use. Chargers can use an astounding 95% of power when not connected to a device, and can significantly contribute to a firm's energy output.

Print responsibly
Most office printing can be avoided. Staff should be encouraged to print only when necessary and ask themselves if they truly need a hard copy. Good practice should also be taught; staff can copy and paste the relevant parts of an email into a Word document and print that off instead. This may also avoid printing heavy colour based signatures and company logos.

Buy energy-efficient efficient equipment
Logos and standards can help you get the most from your equipment and save the most amount of money on your energy bills. Appliances are rated from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient. The Energy Star rating on computer and electronic equipment relates to the most energy efficient devices so ensure all your equipment carries the Energy Star rating. In addition, the Energy Saving Recommended logo can be found on insulation, lightbulbs and other fittings; products carrying the mark will save companies around £45 per year.

Make fewer business trips
Before you travel on business, ask yourself if you really need to travel. With so many digital communication methods available today, do you really need to meet face to face? If a meeting is unavoidable ensure you use more energy efficient methods of travel, such as trains and buses rather than planes.

Turn your computer off regularly
This may come as a surprise, but a computer left unused for more than 16 minutes will be more energy efficient if it is turned on rather than left on. Make sure your staff use the sleep mode and turn off equipment when going home for the day.

As climate change gets ever more important, organisations will find these tips invaluable. Check out our carbon reduction tips from earlier. For more information on reducing your carbon footprint, get in touch with First Choice Business Systems, specialists in Xerox printer products, on 0800 072 3747.

Five New Years resolutions to reduce your carbon footprint!

Offices can employ simple but effective measures to reduce their carbon footprintWith the Copenhagen Summit constantly in the news, the spotlight is firmly fixed upon climate change. There's obviously a distinct need to promote sustainable activities, and the government is currently making carbon reduction pledges for the coming years. Businesses of all sizes will be expected to do their bit in the near future, so why not see where you can improve your carbon footprint now and prepare early?

The New Year is a great time to think about carbon efficiency and see where improvements can be made. Offices are known for being incredibly carbon-intensive, but with a little thought and preparation you can very easily reduce your footprint and help the government achieve its goals.

Here are 5 easy steps you can take:

Recycle your paper efficiently
It is estimated that 95% of business information is stored on paper, which translates to a huge amount of printed material sitting around your office. By placing recycling bins next to printers, and in gangways, you encourage your employees to recycle as much as they can. Briefing your staff in your expectations on recyling will also make it clear that you expect them to recycle as much as they can

Re-use draft paper
Implement a 'draft paper tray' and encourage employees to place their unwanted materials there. Scrap paper can be taken from the tray, and when it cannot be used any further it can be placed into the recycling tray.

Turn computer equipment off
It was recently estimated that leaving a computer monitor on overnight uses enough power to print over 600 A4 laser pages. Ensure all employees are briefed on best practices, including turning off computers and monitors, putting printers on standby or turning them off, and turning lights off in unused rooms. Apply 'switch me off' stickers to equipment to remind staff.

Make use of two-sided printing
Two-sided printing can reduce your print usage by up to 50%. If you then recycle your material you can make significant leeway to reducing your carbon footprint. Two-side printing comes as standard on many Xerox printers.

Increase use of electronic communication methods
E-mail is a very sustainable communication method. Set up mailing lists and encourage employees to use email rather than post its and internal mail. Staff members should also be told to print emails only when absolutely necessary.

Good luck with your carbon reduction efforts in the New Year!

Five New Years resolutions to reduce your carbon footprint!